Authorities have identified 177 quacks in Junagadh district following an intensified drive by the Health Department. Complaint has,however,been lodged against only half a dozen quacks,while the rest have reportedly downed their shutters and are on the run,official sources said.

According to sources,60 teams of officials are scanning the district to put a tab on non-qualified medical practitioners,who are practicing on fake degrees obtained from UP and Bihar.

Chief District Health Officer Dr Pankaj Pandey said: We have already identified 177 quacks,practicing illegally in various parts of Junagadh district. A total of 771 clinics and laboratories were checked by our team of officials in the last five days.

According to Pandey,instructions have been issued to all the concerned officials,including the block health officers,to carry out drive in their respective areas.

J P Ahiya,a Health Department official,said: The non-medical practitioners have gone underground,but we have already marked the places from where they were carrying on illegal practice. We have asked the local people and sources to provide us with information,whenever they restart their activities.

According to officials,most of the quacks have no educational background and have obtained certificates from non-recognised institutions in Bihar and UP.

Some have started practice in the remote areas,particularly in the villages,on the basis of the experience gained by working in hospitals,they added.